I could say a lot of things about that-but mostly I think Arlo’s and Graham’s conviction speak the loudest. I also think if and when Rios’ sealed confession is made public it has the potential to speak even louder and introduce in a more concrete fashion a new list of players.
Then there’s all those troublesome witnesses who have testified, and possible witnesses who have yet to speak. Even AIM members, upper and lower level, saying AIM was responsible for Annie Mae’s murder.
If there are further indictments I would anticipate another rollover somewhere along the line-someone saying to themselves enough and stepping forward.
When I first received this blog reply in They Just Make That Shit Up and replied to it there I thought it just another example of sick “internet humor”- it’s obviously fueled by a dislike of opinions I’ve expressed and myself as well, but goes beyond that that.
I understand there exists various factions and opinions about the murder of Annie Mae-lot of denial related to responsibility, and the ever present alibis and accusations, but to deny that Annie was murdered is beyond my understanding. Those who hold such opinions aren’t interested in such trivialities as evidence and testimony, an autopsy performed that reveals a bullet wound, logic and reason are not to be entertained either, and perhaps the correct emotion for those who entertain an opinion such as this one should be pity rather anger.
My initial thought was to assign it to the trash bin where it belongs, but in thinking about it I felt it was better to respond and post it-maybe in that it will serve as an illustration of the extremes that people will go to, and may shed a little light on what Annie Mae’s daughters have endured for decades.
The author of this statement weaves in and out of the Annie Mae fb memorial page, and while I haven’t seen a similar statement made there I have seen what I considered borderline innuendo.
I know for a fact that this individual has threatened “legal action” against at least one person who posts there-my advice to them would be since there is no legal basis maybe reasoned discussion should be considered. If that isn’t possible then they should take their own advice and stfu.
https://rezinate.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/they-just-make-that-shit-up-2/
Rezinate's Blog 
The so-called “warriors,” both women and men who are undoubtedly responsible for Anna Mae’s death are so afraid of the TRUTH that it means nothing but to act like our oppressors and use dishonesty, lies, innuendos, half-truths, etc. to make her death seem worthless which is what they are for covering up the TRUTH. All are accessories to her murder and all need to be held accountable. I thought these were brave and strong people yet they are weak, miserable, and poor excuses for Natives.
And the issue facing the nations-the setting aside of traditional values
and embracing the very ones so much time is spent railing against.
The people need to have a voice of their own-not the ones who have
promoted themselves as leaders and fueled a cultural genocide. I
believe in the nations, and somewhere within them are voices whose
sole concern is the welfare of their people that need to speak and be heard.
These celebrities need to be banned-decades ago. Let them go and be
among the non indigenous they denounce and yet have built their careers
among and relied upon for air time, an audience, and financial gain.
Too many good people suffering while they sit at their personal banquet.
Maybe our old “AIMsters” can’t wait to get older, waiting for a possible prosecutorial reprieve to octogenarians, stating, ‘I don’t remember’. Theda Clark got away with it, as she frequented casinos, Altzhimers and all.
This one isn’t going away as testimony opened other avenues of further prosecution…so much for these cowards braggin’ and acting wakan. Bet their phones are being tapped as we speak! Feds will go after these guilty ppl.
And a long time coming Arlen-probably seeking spiritual advice from their
resident guru Crow Dog or working behind the scenes to cut a deal. I’ve
always believed somewhere in the higher ups someone has fed bits and pieces
over the years to immunize themself-maybe I’m wrong about that but in
viewing the history there’s been an inordinate amount of teflon.
They might try that “help, I’ve fallen and can’t get up” thing as well Anakis-
Theda was found competent but stated she would invoke the new hoka hey-
“I’ll take the fifth.”
All this has been a great misery, a unfair burden, that has impacted the nations
in ways both visible and unseen. Completely without justification, and for the
benefit of the few at the expense of the many.
I saw a movie not long ago titled Network-from the seventies I think-in it
a character leads a rebellion of sorts when during his broadcast he implores
people to stand up, go to their windows and shout into the street “I’m
mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore”-seems appropriate in
this instance as well.
No more lies, no more stories, no more self indulgent gas bags, no more
injustice and abuse,no more poverty, no more dependency, no more show
time from self anointed celebrities, no more manipulated factions and
divisions.
I think they must be panicing and questioning each other’s loyalty. The attention needs to stay on those whom are guilty as I see on Facebook that some of the supporters are not well informed about the outcome of the trial in Rapid City where what’shisname was found guilty. I think Peltier got cooked by their testimony as well which could be one reason for the AIM having targeted Anna Mae in the first place along with all the jealousy and dysfunction they couldn’t overcome within their group.
Questioning and accusing each other has been their signature over
the years, even to the point of shooting at each other and armed
stare downs such as took place in Ajo.
It has long been a mystery to me how any of them gained even
a measure of credibility-but I guess that’s a testament to just
making that shit up as they went along.
I suspect you are right about wind chasing himself, and undoubtedly
he is being given a second look by prosecutors-if so he will turn it into
yet another podium for the litany of alleged abuses he claims-the upside
could be another vehicle to add to the coffers and fuel the entities
that support him. Job security in a manner of speaking.
He’s not going anywhere, so ultimately what is more time added to the
sentence? The “damage” would be to the myth created about him-a low
level thug who is now promoted as a leader and some sort of quasi symbol
representative of culture and tradition.
His elevation, as well as those within the AIM leadership of that time speaks
to a desperation on behalf of the people for present day icons, heroes-when
in reality they need look no further than at those within the communities
who struggle daily to lead an honorable life- the potential lays within each
of them to do iconic things, to be heroes in the day to day. It isn’t about attention
or acclaim, it is about good works and good deeds done.
I won’t listen to a man who will boast of a good deed-but I will listen to
those who have been the recipient in their telling of it. That is traditional-
not every time you speak to plug some bs book you have authored and without
fail mention it is in it’s whatever printing, or go on about movie performances,
or membership in a “think tank”, which I personally find hilarious.
AIM was, and is, a cataclysmic event that left a swath of destruction in it’s
wake-all the lies and revisions will never alter the truth of that.
Yup – you’re right about the facade some of these so-called Native heroes have managed to bilk these days, from foreigners and bleeding hearts across the world. They make their own prisons and their own b.s. It’s sad people will travel across the Atlantic to be in a an Inipi when the attention came from people who praised themselves with grandiosity and visions of stardom. Yes, the true heroes are the Common People who are honest, hardworking, intelligent, and truly humble; our modern day heroes who didn’t seek fame in dominant society. We’re born with the most awesome work ethic in the world or one of them at least and that should be recognized in our culture, not crybabies who pledge their allegiance to each other and who have a history of nothing before they took innocent lives and committed all types of felonies from hauling underaged girls across state lines for their own sick hunger and misguided mentalities. Yup, talk about taking advantage of impressionable children and trying to be “chiefs.” It’s a bunch of pot smokin’ bleary minded biz from what I witnessed back in the day as a young man witnessing what it was to be tradish…lol. Luckily amny of us never fell for it.
To your credit that “back in the day” you didn’t fall for the party
line, and some who did moved on.
I see the beginnings of a struggle to create a cultural renaissance in an
awareness to save the language-in doing so that will lead to other things.
The obstacles to this I believe are the cultural vacuuming that is going
on, and, for lack of better term, the cross pollination occurring due to that.
An insidious encroachment of the new age ramblings as evidenced by
people like Goodwill-Kindness who promotes himself as an indigenous “seer”,
gives “readings”, past life regressions, and sells his wares at a place
referred to as The Psychic Eye-or Russell’s penchant to allude that others
have said he is Crazy Horse returned, in his dreams maybe. I wonder what
nations traditions these are from?
As if this isn’t obstacle enough the nations are to be burdened with
the likes of the celebrities as well. Ultimately it begins and ends with
the people-it is their responsibility to accept or reject-to have an awareness
of, and define what is right and what is wrong within their communities.
This cross pollination is a substitution of GMO’s that will lead to a
sterilized, mutated version of everything that was, and ultimately I believe
accelerate acculturation.
The nations stand at the edge of a precipice-they can continue forward
and suffer the consequences with devastating effects, or they can turn back
and return to the security that too many in the past died in an attempt to insure.
Take only what serves this end, just as we did with iron pots and pans,
rifles and horses, fabric and other things, and leave the rest of it. To do
so is a people’s movement-not an AIM, Means, Banks, or Peltier one-though
they would probably love to lead the parade.
I hear people go on about pan indian movements-what I think they miss is
that it can be a movement that recognizes the culture and traditions of each
nation while at the same time in the strength of numbers and unity fight
for the common welfare of all.
In that no one is obligated to accept the ways of another, only respect and
defend them under that oft repeated phrase “we are all related”. If the one
who voices such a phrase does so as something more than a cliche they must
also realize and accept the responsibility it implies.
For sure Rezinate, I’ve seen, heard of and witnessed people who have the mistaken/Hollywood version of what being native really means…I have met people who are “convenience Indians” who claim Native for jobs or for social “standing.” These are the dangerous types who belly up to the bar and try to fool the Native men and women and attempt to barter something in return for their fake/plastic kindness like a jump in the old sack or they attempt to stand out. True Natives can see right through these jerks. There’s nothing like hearing a Native woman or man speak their language at a conference and talk about our identity and where we are headed! That’s where the wannabees lose interest and smirk (they think) behind our backs. True movements are led by good, honest Natives not thrill seekers or emotionally unfit people like those mentioned above. Yup, when I say “Mitakuye Oyasin” as is in my emails – I truly mean it and any true Native can understand it while those who can’t relate will not. I think some of these guys and gals got caught up in the “fame” mode way back when and it led to their destruction and that of others who were innocent and honestly trying to make a difference.
It is a good thing to hear the people speak here with the clear strong voice
to say we are all related. We love the people we are born to but we love our
many cousins in the other tribes to and know they are relatives.
I know the type-in a forum not long ago that I don’t participate in
I saw a somewhat heated response by an individual who was doing the
Hollywood thing about my lodge etc. say that people could keep their
donations-that in effect they weren’t needed and the nation he lays
claim to could/would take care of itself.
This individual doesn’t live on the rez or anywhere near it, being
several states removed-in addition they are financially secure and
preside over a farm/ranch of several hundred acres.
My first thought was to think easy for you to say, then I became
impressed with the absurdity of a person so out of touch to make
such a statement.
Donations while they fill a need and speak to the good heart
of those who contribute create a secondary dependency that cannot
really be counted upon, and in an obscure manner perpetuate the
hostage situation the nations find themself in.
Without them circumstances would be even more dire, as difficult to
imagine as that is. The necessity of donations should serve as yet
another impetus to achieve self reliance regardless of how much effort
or sacrifice it requires.
The individual who spoke these disconnected words should look into
the eyes of “his” people and repeat them. He should say it to the
elder or children who have the comfort of heat in the winter due to
donations, or food on the table, that warm jacket or coat, glass in
the window, electricity and running water-maybe that special treat
of a toy or some cookies for a child.
Dependency is like a hamster in the cage on an exercise wheel-
he can run all day, change nothing, and never advance from the point
he began. In the end he will gnaw on the bars that confine him and
depend on another to provide the necessities.
We are not hamsters-and the energy we expend should be directed at
creating a way rather than gnawing on the bars of the cage that confines
us, or looking at these celebrities with any expectation-they have their’s,
and what they would share are words and their “wisdom”. Neither of which
have any substance.
These realities create conflicting emotions in me, a despair and an anger
that I believe to be commonly held-but they also create determination, and
I would hope that too is commonly held.
Let the land owners, disconnected, and convenience ones speak as is their
way, let them smirk if that is their way also, in the end it is as you say among
the rank and file-we are a good people who bleed when we are cut, laugh
when there is joy, and shed tears when we suffer just as all of humanity does.
In that no one can deny we are all related.
Well said Rezinate. From the northern, frozen shores of Alaska to the warmth of Florida to the southern tips of Chile to the western shores of California on up into Washington state and all up into Canada…we have so much to realize about OUR potential as One with Creator. This is the reality I speak of as I have witnessed for myself in many, many conversations with our Relatives. We must be determined to avert those ill-intentioned actions by those who falsely represent themselves as it is their greed and single-minded aura that perpetuates artificialities. Yes, our Elders must be listened to as well as the young and those in between as we all have something to contribute if our hearts and minds are truly in the right place. For those of us who have survived in dominant society and the rez we know 2 worlds and have walked in those 2 worlds and are the better for it with regard to knowing that it takes more than one person to overcome life’s challenges and to set goals that are good and just for our People of all of our Nations.
“For those of us who have survived in dominant society and the rez we know
2 worlds and have walked in those 2 worlds and are the better for it with regard
to knowing that it takes more than one person to overcome life’s challenges and
to set goals that are good and just for our People of all of our Nations.”
Pretty much says it all I think. All life is based on experience, lessons learned,
and the application of them. It is about awareness of circumstance, options, and
the willingness to pursue worthy goals-remove that from the equation and little
is left.
“Murder is always a murder, no matter of it’s motives and circumstances.
So therefore those who planning, preparing murder and who commit that crime – they are lawbreakers and malefactors .
No matter WHO they are: kings, marshals, judges or common people.
None of those, who deliberate and bring along violence and fear, none of them have right to consider himself someone better than common thug and criminal.
Because it is well known that omnifarious (all kind of) violence brings nothing more than fear, suffering, injustice and inevitably leads to murder and law breaking.”
“If we choose to see the Truth, no matter how painful – it’s bringing back our Freedom and connects us. It brings Justice and Forgiveness. Truth showing us best ways to be reunited.
It is OUR right as a Nations to at least ask questions. Expect honest answers.
OUR right is to see, hear, notice and have our doubts, to evaluate is it RIGHT or WRONG.Even IF we are making mistakes. Because WE shall not repeat ways which are WRONG. Because only then WE are free as a Nation. When we can ask about what is important for US.
About every death and every event which causes OUR pain .
NO matter how must Time will flow – Memory ALWAYS stays with us.
So we must have right to ask, get answer and decide as WE what we consider RIGHT and WRONG, Truth or Lies. Not only because of national conscious Justice of Truth for families mourning their relatives,the Truth that will sets free all – spirits and living – but also for OUR life and safety/security in national, public and political ways WE choosing together for US and OUR Children.”
“Murder is always a murder, no matter of it’s motives and circumstances.”
I’m surprised those with involvement haven’t attempted to describe it
as tradition-maybe they just haven’t thought of that as yet.